6 ways to celebrate Take a Hike Day this year
National Take a Hike Day is Nov. 17. Wait, don’t roll your eyes: It’s not one of those made-up Hallmark holidays, and you certainly don’t have to buy anyone a gift.
National Hiking Day, as it’s also called, is a real thing. It appears to have been established either by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, or by the American Hiking Society, year unknown, to promote outdoor exercise and love of nature.
It’s a day everyone should pay attention to, even those with mobility challenges. And there are more benefits from moving around outdoors than there are acorns in a squirrel’s winter stash. A walk or bike ride outside does wonders for the body, mind, and soul.
If done regularly, outdoor exercise can ease Parkinson’s symptoms. But you knew that. So what are you waiting for?
Most communities have nature preserves, forested areas, and walking paths. Many have accessibility in mind, so no one should feel left out.
Here are 6 ways you can observe Take a Hike Day:
1 Choose a trail around your community and hike it.
This could be a challenge since Nov. 17 falls on a Monday this year, and it’s already dark out when many people get off work. So a trail outing might have to be planned for the weekend before or after. It still counts. (After all, how often do you celebrate your birthday with others on the actual date?)
2 Buy yourself some new hiking boots or trail shoes.
The thought of new hiking boots is always exciting – until you remember there’s a break-in period. Wear them for short periods at first until they feel good on your feet. I recently bought a new pair. I must’ve I tried on about eight different styles, and I apologized to the shoe guy for the boxes strewn everywhere. Eventually I made my choice, and now I look forward to trying them out on the trails.
3 Watch the first episode of the PBS series “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
The opening episode of this fantastic Ken Burns series talks about superhiker John Muir and his influence. You can find it on Amazon Prime or through a PBS subscription (which requires a donation), or free at your local library, for those like me whose DVD player still takes up shelf space.
4 Take a walk in the neighborhood where you grew up.
If that means postponing it until you travel home for Thanksgiving, that’s OK. I wrote about “nostalgia walks” last winter in a post where I explain why they are an ideal hike for people with Parkinson’s disease. Among other benefits, it’s a mood lifter. For me, it also brought back sweet memories I thought were gone forever.
5 Make a donation to help preserve hiking areas and trails.
Federally funded preserves and nature areas need financial support more than ever. Here are a few organizations you could consider helping out. There may be one in your local area, too.
6 Begin planning your next hiking trip, large or small.
Is El Camino de Santiago calling your name? How about the Swiss Alps? Wherever you’re hoping to go, now is the time to plan for a big summer trip. For hikers who want to stay close to home, look for an open weekend in the near future and drive for an hour or two to a trail or path you’ve always wanted to try.
I loved seeing your video of what you can still do with Parkinsons! Seeing the short footage from so many of your hikes made me want to take some of these tips and get out on the trails.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y75Iea8yno
Do it, Jaime!! Take your kids, too!